Huawei’s foldable P50 Pocket has a circular external screen that’s perfect for notifications

Huawei has officially announced the P50 Pocket, a clamshell-style folding smartphone that has a circular, 1-inch external display for quick access to notifications and widgets. The device launches in China today, though US sanctions (which mean Huawei can’t use key tech like Google’s Android OS) mean the P50 Pocket won’t make any impact in the West.

Huawei teased the handset earlier this month with a photoshoot focused on the P50 Pocket Premium Edition that appeared in Harper’s Bazaar China. This version of the device was created with Dutch designer Iris van Herpen. It has a gold or silver finish, and a 3D pattern on the exterior surface that’s typical of van Herpen’s work, resembling feathers or leaves.

The P50 Pocket...

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First super fast PCIe 5.0 SSDs teased ahead of CES

Adata teases first PCIe 5.0 NVMe M.2 SSDs. | image: Adata

Samsung and Adata are both teasing PCIe 5.0 SSDs ahead of January’s big CES event. With read/write speeds up to 14/12 GBps, this new generation of solid state storage is essentially twice as fast as the fastest PCIe 4.0 drives.

Adata teased two prototypes of its first PCIe 5.0 NVMe M.2 SSDs with capacities up to 8TB. The so-called Project Nighthawk SSD is designed using a Silicon Motion SM2508 controller capable of sequential read/write speeds up to 14/12GBps, while the Project Blackbird SSD features an InnoGrit IG5666 controller for 14/10GBps read/write speeds. Adata will hopefully provide more details at CES which begins January 5th, unless COVID derails it again.

Image: Samsung

Samsung’s targeting enterprise...

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Apple closes several stores due to COVID-19 outbreaks, encourages online shopping

Photo by Octavio Jones/Getty Images

Over the last couple of weeks, several Apple Stores around the US have closed due to rising COVID-19 infections among staff members, and a report by Bloomberg lists seven locations in the US and Canada that have shut down operations within the last day or so. The Apple Stores listed include Dadeland and The Gardens Mall in Florida, Lenox Square in Atlanta, GA, Highland Village in Houston, TX, Summit Mall in Ohio, Pheasant Lane in New Hampshire, and Sainte-Catherine in Montreal, Canada.

According to the report, shutdowns are usually called when 10 percent of the store’s staff has tested positive. These spikes are occurring as the CDC reports omicron has become the dominant strain of the virus spreading throughout the US. Apple’s response...

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LG Display brought a reclining curved OLED throne to CES this year

Image: LG Display

Would it even be a tech tradeshow without a new throne? 2020 brought us the scorpion chair, 2019 gave us the “fully-immersive” toilet, and attempts to encasegamers in their own PCs have been a thing as long as I’ve been on the beat. But LG Display has a new, more elegant take on the idea: a rotating curved 55-inch OLED TV attached to a reclining slice of chair that positions you at the sweet spot of those pixels.

Like most of LG Display’s ideas, the “Media Chair” is a concept, not a product — at least for now. LG Display tells us it’s actually working with an unnamed Korean massage chair company to bring it to market someday. “It’s being commercialized by them, they’re going to sell it,” spokesperson Matthew Weigand tells The Verge.

...

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Amazon workers in Staten Island refile union petition

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge

Amazon warehouse workers in Staten Island, New York, have refiled a union petition with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), NLRB press secretary Kayla Blado confirmed to The Verge. Workers also staged a “lunchtime walkout” in an attempt to get Amazon to recognize the union, according to a report from CNBC.

The Amazon Labor Union (ALU) has been organizing a union at four Staten Island warehouse locations. It initially filed for a union election on October 25th and collected over 2,000 employee signatures in support. However, as reported by Bloomberg, it later withdrew its petition after it was determined that the group needed more signatures. US law dictates that union organizers need the support of at least 30 percent of workers —...

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HBO Max 2022 trailer offers a peek at Westworld and its new Game of Thrones spinoff

Illustration by William Joel / The Verge

The WarnerMedia-owned platform HBO Max packs a lot in its two-minute 2022 preview reel, introducing a number of lower-profile Warner Bros. films making their debut on HBO Max in 2022, marking a shift back towards theatrical releases for mainstream movies. It also offers brief glimpses of all of the other originals coming to the platform next year, including season four of Westworld and the new Game of Thrones spinoff House of the Dragon.

Warner Bros. said it would return to theatrical releases in 2022, and it looks like it’s following through on its promise

Throughout 2021, Warner Bros. experimented with releasing its big-budget films both in theaters and on HBO Max for a month after its release. Wonder Woman 1984, Godzilla vs. Kong, D...

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Jack Dorsey’s hot Web3 takes are apparently too much for Marc Andreessen to handle

Who knew that leaving the top spot at Twitter could make someone a more interesting follow? The co-founder and (for the second time) former CEO of Twitter Jack Dorsey recently opened up about his issues with so-called “Web3” projects that aren’t decentralized to his liking and the venture capitalists that he says own the whole thing, creating “ultimately a centralized entity with a different label.”

Shockingly, his statements haven’t been received well by fellow tech thought leaders, billionaires, and venture capitalists, who’ve taken turns either trying to minimize his criticism of their blockchain efforts or going directly at him.

I’m officially banned from web3 pic.twitter.com/RrEIAuqE6f

— jack⚡️ (@jack) December 22, 2021

Marc...

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How to get the most out of your Pixel’s Now Playing feature

The other day, I was watching the documentary The Beatles: Get Back, which flashes on the screen the names of the songs being played and happened to miss the identification of a song I didn’t recognize. “What was that?” I asked my partner. He didn’t know either.

But my Pixel 6 didn’t miss it. Looking down at my lock screen, it said “Dig a Pony The Beatles,” courtesy of Android’s Now Playing feature.

Now, I’m not a huge music fan — I’m the kind of person who listens to the same album again and again, and when I hear a great new song, instead of immediately researching the source, I tend to think, “Hey, that’s nice,” and leave it at that. But now, when I hear something that I sort of like and later on suddenly remember it, I can look it...

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Zombie brand RadioShack is launching a crypto market for ‘the older generation’

RadioShack, the venerable retailer relaunched as an online-focused brand in 2020, now wants to chart a future as a cryptocurrency exchange. Earlier this week, the company announced RadioShack DeFi (short for “decentralized finance”), a market where people can swap newly announced RADIO tokens as an alternative to a centralized exchange like Coinbase. Moreover, RadioShack insists that it’s uniquely positioned to take cryptocurrency mainstream — claiming that “RadioShack, and RadioShack alone, can bridge the gap and ‘cross the chasm’ of mainstream usage for cryptocurrency.”

RadioShack’s argument is basically that as a very old brand, it’s primed to sell old CEOs on cryptocurrency. “Too many [cryptocurrency companies] focused on speculation...

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GameStop will have PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X bundles in-store on December 23rd

Photo by Vjeran Pavic / The Verge

Much like last week’s in-person restock of the PlayStation 5, GameStop is once again hosting another day of in-store new console sales. This time, it will take place on Thursday, December 23rd, and include both the standard, disc drive-equipped PlayStation 5 and the Xbox Series X. This event is exclusive to GameStop Pro members, which costs $14.99 per year and can be purchased online in advance. GameStop has listed the participating stores for both PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X on its website, indicating that more locations are stocking Sony’s console — 598 stores with PS5s Thursday, compared to 277 listed for Xbox.

Though the PS5 may be more readily available Thursday, both consoles have been difficult to buy online, even with...

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Own goal for Arsenal FC as regulator bans crypto fan token ads

It seems everyone’s into cryptocurrency these days, including Premier League soccer teams. But Britain’s advertising regulator was unimpressed with the branding around the latest token offering from Arsenal FC.

A ruling made Wednesday by the UK’s Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) banned two web promotions for Arsenal’s crypto-based token on the grounds that they failed to explain risk and misled fans about the volatility of cryptocurrency assets.

The two ads promoted the $AFC token, one via a Facebook post and one on a web page, and were published in August of 2021. The Facebook post encouraged fans to claim a token in order to vote on what song would be played when the team wins a match.

“[Arsenal players] Ben White, Calum Chambers...

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Level’s planning a very visible keypad for its very invisible smart locks

Image: Level

Level teased a new keypad product on its website today (viaHomeKit News) that will give owners of the company’s elegant and discreet Level Touch smart locks another way to access their homes. The Level Keypad will also apparently work with previous models, including the original design that hid inside existing deadbolt hardware.

A keypad would solve one of the main complaints on Level’s locks — that there’s no key-less entry option for those not carrying a smartphone (which kids might not have) or a linked NFC keycard. It also gives an option to share separate access codes for guests or workers.

Image: Level via HomeKit News

Level Keypad in use

Delivering a keypad shows that Level has branched out to a more...

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Amazon briefly banned itself on Twitch after rogue host exposed herself on air

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge

In a weird internet mix-up, it looks like Amazon briefly suspended its Spanish-language Prime Video Twitch channel on Sunday after a host exposed herself on-air, according to a report from the BBC. The ban was lifted after less than 24 hours, according to Android Police, and the broadcast appears to have been deleted from the channel. But it’s a bit unusual for Amazon to essentially ban itself; the e-comm giant has owned Twitch since 2014.

The dustup occurred during the talk show “Esto es un Late,” towards the end of what the BBC described as an hours-long broadcast. “We’re about to be banned,” said host and comedian Henar Alvarez while lifting up her shirt during the livestream. “Come on. They’re going to ban us!”

As reported by the BBC,...

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You can now take Zoom calls from your Amazon television

Photo by Chris Welch / The Verge

Amazon launched its own branded Fire TV television sets last month with attractively low price tags for a large, if underwhelming, 4K screen — and today, they’re getting the promised Zoom video calling app so you can chat with family and friends this holiday season (and beyond). While we noted that Zoom was missing at launch and merely “coming soon” as of December 7th, Amazon has managed to roll it out in time for Christmas and New Year’s celebrations.

There’s no camera built into these TVs, of course. As Amazon explains in its official blog post, you’ll need a compatible USB webcam to make it work, one with 720p or 1080p resolution, and the company only specifically lists the Logitech C920, C922x, and C310 as examples. And even if you...

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How Marvel Games got its groove back

Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy winning Best Narrative was one of the biggest surprises of the 2021 Game Awards. Not only was the category absolutely stacked — featuring serial 10/10 earner Deathloop and eventual Game of the Year winner It Takes Two — but Marvel titles not released by Insomniac Games were known for being critical disappointments. So it was a huge achievement for _Guardians_to take the category, beating out games that were far and away easy favorites.

The win was validation for Jay Ong, EVP of Marvel Games, and his team’s long-term strategy for becoming “the world’s best creative consultancy” by partnering with developers that make games that resonate with fans.

“This was a huge win,” Ong told The Verge. “A key thing was...

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PSA: you can now buy a Nintendo Switch OLED or an Xbox Series S without the hassle

The object of your desire can now be yours (if it’s a Nintendo Switch OLED). | Image: Nintendo

When the Nintendo Switch OLED Model launched in the fall, it immediately joined the ranks of the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and desktop graphics cards as a sought-after piece of tech that was suddenly out of stock everywhere. While that’s still the case for most of those products that I just mentioned — some are only available for close to double their original price on the secondary market — the Switch OLED is no longer difficult to find in stock. The same goes for Microsoft’s cheaper next-gen console, the Xbox Series S.

If you’re looking for Nintendo’s high-end console, the chances are very good that you can log onto Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, Target, and other retail sites right now and find whichever Switch OLED you want available...

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Asus Zenbook 14X OLED review: a cool but impractical laptop

You can get a better OLED notebook for less money

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The Xbox Series X is available at Best Buy right now

Photo by Vjeran Pavic / The Verge

Microsoft’s Xbox Series X keeps coming and going, but the next-gen console remains tricky to get a hold of. We just saw it go up for sale at Costco this morning, and as usual, it did not last long before it sold out. Now, another chance has sprung up at Best Buy.

Right now, you can queue up for the Xbox Series X from Best Buy. The retailer is just selling the console — no bundle required — and it is open to anyone, including those who are not Best Buy Totaltech subscribers. Just click the “Add to Cart” button and be patient while you are put in a digital line. As of right now, Best Buy appears to be releasing stock in waves, meaning you may have a second opportunity even if the console appears to be sold out.

Also, be ready for Best...

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FDA authorizes first COVID-19 antiviral pill

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge

On Wednesday, the Food and Drug Administration authorized the first antiviral pill to treat COVID-19, a move that gives doctors another tool to fight the disease. The treatment, made by Pfizer, curbs the risk of hospitalization and death in high-risk patients infected with the coronavirus.

Called Paxlovid, the treatment includes 30 pills taken at home over five days. It has to be started within a few days of symptoms — which could be a challenge in the United States, where it may be difficult for many people to get a COVID-19 test, a result, and see a doctor for a prescription in that window.

Paxlovid cut the risk of hospitalization and death by 89 percent for adults with COVID-19 at high risk of developing severe disease when it was...

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Amazon reinstates mask mandate for warehouse employees as omicron threat looms

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge

Amazon’s warehouse employees across the US will once again have to wear masks, according to an internal notice obtained by CNBC. The company reinstated its mask mandate as the omicron variant continues to spread during Amazon’s busiest time of year.

Amazon has been changing its stance on mask mandates throughout the year

In the message sent to employees, Amazon said that all warehouse workers must wear masks, regardless of vaccination status or local mask requirements. “Your health and safety are of the utmost importance to us,” the notice read. “In response to the rapid spread of the Covid-19 omicron variant in the US and guidance from public health authorities and our own medical experts, face coverings are again required for...

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Tesla investigated over reports drivers can play its video games while vehicles are moving

The NHTSA is investigating Tesla vehicles that allow games on their touchscreens | Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge

The US government says it is investigating more than half a million Tesla vehicles sold since 2017, following reports that drivers can play video games available on its main display screen while driving.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says it received a complaint in August that said live games and internet web searching — which were supposedly restricted to passenger use only while the car was in motion — could be played by anyone in the vehicle at any time. Its Office of Defects and Investigations said in a report that it “confirmed that this capability has been available since December 2020 in Tesla ‘Passenger Play’-equipped vehicles.”

ODI’s preliminary evaluation will include an estimated 580,000 Tesla...

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Doctor Strange 2’s first trailer goes mad for multiverses

Marvel’s journey into the multiverse is barreling forward with the first trailer for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, a sequel to 2016’s Doctor Strange and what promises to be the MCU’s biggest foray yet into the alternate worlds and timelines that installments like Loki and Spider-Man: No Way Home have begun to explore.

It seems that _Multiverse of Madness_will be picking up on a breathtaking number of extant story threads in the MCU. It’s a follow-up to Doctor Strange’s (Benedict Cumberbatch) most recent appearance in Spider-Man: No Way Home, where he helped Peter Parker do some mild tampering with the fabric of reality. It’ll pick up on the revelations around Wanda Maximoff / The Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) from W...

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The green Apple Watch Series 7 has hit a new low price of $339

The Apple Watch Series 7 and its larger screen has a full keyboard for tapping and gesture swiping. | Photo by Vjeran Pavic / The Verge

It’s beginning to look a lot like Dealsmas, now that we’re just a few days away from the holiday and there are still some excellent gifts to get before time truly runs out. While we have been tracking some gift ideas this week that still arrive in time, today, let’s bear down on a bunch of excellent sales — some on frequently discounted products that hit new low prices and others on newly launched gadgets to cut you early adopters a break.

Leading us off, it just isn’t the holiday season without a great Apple Watch deal — and in such a festive color. The green Apple Watch Series 7 may appear darker in person than in some photographs, but right now, it’s the cheapest way to get the latest smartwatch from Apple. You can pick up the base...

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Zillow adds support for iOS 15’s SharePlay, so you can look at homes together from your studio apartments

Zillow

Have you ever wanted to aimlessly scroll through Zillow and admire all the heinously expensive houses that you’ll never be able to afford thanks to the skyrocketing price of real estate — but also share that experience with a friend or loved one who isn’t able to join you in your ~~delusional~~ aspirational browsing in real life?

Well, Zillow has debuted the solution to that dubiously common problem by adding support for Apple’s new SharePlay feature to its iPhone and iPad apps. Which, in turn, allows you to browse listings (something that Zillow — a company that appears to be completely unfamiliar with the existence of baseball — describes in its press release as “America’s favorite pastime”) over FaceTime.

An odd use for Apple’s new...

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Costco members can order the Xbox Series X right now

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge

The Xbox Series X console has remained hard to come by, and with the holidays looming the window to get one in time is narrowing. Many retailers have turned to charging for the chance just to buy a console via subscription-based memberships, which is a game that Costco has been playing from the beginning. The warehouse retailer has gotten its fair share of console restocks, and today it has Microsoft’s flagship console available for its members.

You can order the Xbox Series X from Costco right now, which is only sold as a bundle with an extra controller. You need a paid Costco membership to order this, which you can get here at the retailer’s site for a minimum of $60 per year. While some video games and accessories can be purchased...

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Listen to these wild sounds NASA recorded from Jupiter’s moon

A preliminary close-up image of Ganymede obtained by the JunoCam imager | Image: NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS

NASA unveiled a 50-second audio clip from Juno’s Ganymede flyby at the American Geophysical Union (AGU) fall meeting on Friday. Generated from data captured on June 7th during the spacecraft’s closest approach yet to Ganymede, the sound, similar to a robot or dial-up modem, is the latest fascinating return from the Juno mission’s years-long exploration of the Solar System’s largest gas giant and its moons.

The audio comes from data gathered using Juno’s Waves instrument, designed to measure radio and plasma waves detected in Jupiter’s magnetosphere, the bubble of charged particles that envelop the gas giant. Ganymede is Jupiter’s largest moon and the only moon in the Solar System to have a magnetosphere of its own. The emissions data...

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Hawkeye’s first season is a welcome holiday surprise

Image: Marvel Studios

A fun romp with some important MCU connections

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Fight climate change by eating your leftovers this holiday season

Photo illustration by Kristen Radtke / The Verge

In my family, there are two traditions when it comes to holiday meals: there must be way more food on the table than everyone can eat, and everyone must take home a plate of food at the end of the meal to make sure all the hard work that went into its preparation wasn’t wasted.

While small holiday gatherings have become the norm in my house in recent years, my mom still prepares big portions. When I asked her why, it boiled down to wanting to make sure there was enough for everyone, not just to enjoy the meal but to enjoy leftovers for as long as they wanted. That seemed perfectly reasonable to me — until I learned what a problem those leftovers are for the planet if they go to waste.

The holidays are a busy time for trash collectors....

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Former Google and Meta executive launches at-home COVID-19 test

Detect

A new medical testing startup called Detect began selling at-home molecular COVID-19 tests through its website last week. The company also announced its CEO — Hugo Barra, a former executive at companies like Meta and Google who previously worked on hardware products like smartphones and virtual reality.

The timing was sadly serendipitous — the launch coincided with a near-unprecedented surge in COVID-19 cases in the United States, driven by the omicron variant. It’s nearly impossible to find an at-home test for the virus. Detect’s website shows that its tests are sold out and notes that “limited quantities” will be available at noon each day.

“During this kind of high pressure, high tension period, where people really need these tests,...

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T-Mobile’s 5G Home Internet: I tried it, and it tried me

Is cellular good enough for a home internet connection?

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